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Thursday, July 26, 2007

TOP STORY >>Education is key

By Brig. Gen(S) Wayne Schatz314th Airlift Wing Commander

Education is a key factor in our continued success as the premier air and space force. The knowledge and skill you bring to the job each day and the proficiency level at which you apply them help determine our effectiveness as a fighting force. This is why it is important that you make education a priority throughout your Air Force career.

The Air Force provides you the right educational opportunities at the right time in your career so I encourage you to take advantage of each opportunity. If you are enlisted, get your Community College of the Air Force degree and then set a goal to get your bachelor's degree. If you are an officer, set a goal to complete a graduate degree program.

Take advantage of the Tuition Assistance program. It pays 100 percent of tuition costs-up to $4,500 per year and $250 per semester credit hour.

Find a local or online college that meets your needs and interests, and enroll. Professional Military Education is also an important part of your development. Attend or enroll in the next level of PME as soon as you become eligible. You are our most valuable asset and our competitive advantage over the enemy. When you make a commitment to education, you enhance your effectiveness and our ability to accomplish the wing mission.

Education plays a key role in our ability to fight and win the Global War on Terror and also helps ensure our readiness to fight the next war.

Continue to enhance your warfighting capabilities by increasing your educational level and improving your job skills.I firmly believe that a lifelong commitment to learning is an absolute necessity in our professional and personal lives. The futurist Alvin Toffler classified the illiterates of the 21st century as those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. To thrive individually and as a fighting force, we must make continuous learning a core competency or risk becoming illiterate and irrelevant.

Finally, I encourage you to develop a habit of staying current on world events. Because we are a global force your situational awareness must be global. Find a few good news sources to access each day to help you maintain situational awareness and a strong readiness posture. Advance your education, embrace lifelong learning, and maintain an awareness of world events. They will benefit you in both your personal and professional lives.

Thanks for all you do to support Team Little Rock and our nation. Combat Airlift!